Polypeptides containing sequences characteristic of pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases, polynucleotides containing a sequence coding for such polypeptides, and their use, in particular for diagnostic purposes

ABSTRACT

Purified polypeptides containing characteristic sequences common to the pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases (PYRases) of bacteria, for example of Streptococcus pyogenes, or containing fragments of these sequences; antibodies recognizing these polypeptides; polynucleotides coding for such polypeptides or fragments. 
     Application, in particular, to the overproduction of PYRases by inserting a polynucleotide coding for a PYRase into a vector, and then culturing a host cell transformed using such a vector, or to the production of nucleic acid probes specific for a bacterium having a PYRase gene, expressed or otherwise. These nucleic acid probes may be used as capture or detection probes according to conventional hybridization techniques.

The present invention relates to polypeptides containing sequences characteristic of pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases, to polynucleotides containing a sequence coding for such polypeptides, and to their use, in particular for diagnostic purposes.

Pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases are exopeptidasee which specifically remove 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA) residues from the NH₂ -terminal end of polypeptide chains and proteins (Doolittle and Armentrout, Biochemistry, 1968, 7, 516-521). These enzymes are also referred to as pyrrolidonyl peptidases (Szewczuk and Mulczyk, Eur. J. Biochem, 1969, 8, 63-67) or more commonly PYRases (Mitchell et al., Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 1987, 6, 283-286). These enzymes are specific for the L-PCA-L-amino acid optical isomers (Uliana and Doolittle, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1969, 131, 561-656), and the rate of hydrolysis depends on the amino acid adjacent to the PCA residue (Fujiwara et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1979, 570, 140-148). These enzymes also belong to the arylamidase group, since they are capable of hydrolysing the peptide bond of the synthetic chromogenic substrate L-pyroglutamyl-β-naphthylamide (Patterson et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1963, 238, 3611-3620). These enzymes were first described in bacteria (Mulczyk and Szewczuk, J. Gen. Microb., 1970, 61, 9-13), but they are also found to be present in animal and plant tissues and in man (Szewczuk and Kwiatkowska, Eur. J. Biochem., 1970, 15, 92-96). PYRases prove, in addition, to be a specific means for removing PCA residues blocking the NH₂ -terminal end of peptides, and to be very useful for determining the amino acid sequence of proteins, since peptides not possessing a free α-NH₂ group cannot be sequenced according to the usual Edman degradation. The biochemical and physicochemical properties of PYRases are quite well known, since they have been studied for more than about twenty years. Enzymes having PYRase activity have been isolated and partially purified from several microorganisms, in particular from bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens (Armentrout and Doolittle, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1969, 132, 80-90; Doolittle, Meth. Enzymol. 1970, 19, 555-569), Bacillus subtilis (Szewczuk and Mulczyk, Eur. J. Biochem., 1969, 8, 63-67), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Tsuru etal., J. Biochem, 1978, 84, 467-476), Klebsiella cloacas (Kwiatkowska et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1974, 249, 7729-7736) and Enterococcus faecium (Sullivan etal., Aust. J. Biol. Sci., 1977, 30, 543-552). Conventional purification methods have not, to date, enabled the pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases to be purified to homogeneity from these various organisms. Peptide sequencing of them could consequently not be performed. It is found, moreover, that the molecular masses of PYRases vary greatly according to the microorganisms from which they originate. As an example, there may be mentioned Enterococcus faecium PYRase, which possesses a molecular mass of approximately 42 kDa, whereas Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PYRase possesses a molecular mass of approximately 24 kDA.

These enzymes, apart from their known peptidase activity, constitute a major criterion for the differentiation of enterobacteria (Mutczyk and Szewczuk, J. Gen. Microbiol, 1970, 61, 9-13), from staphylococci (Mulzcyk and Szewczuk, J. Gen. Microbiol., 1970, 70, 383-384), as well as an important factor in presumption of Group A streptococci and enterococci (Ellner et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 1985, 22, 880-881).

On studying the genetics of these enzymes, the Applicant discovered, surprisingly, that the nucleotide sequences coding for the PYRases are very different for each of the species of microorganism studied, and that, in addition, the genes coding for PYRases originating from different microbial organisms, though having very divergent nucleotide sequences, code, in fact, for proteins having very convergent peptide sequences.

A considerable homology is, in effect, observed between the peptide sequences of PYRases extracted, for example, from Streptococcus pyogenes and from Bacillus subtilis. This discovery is of twofold interest. On the one hand, the production of specific antibodies directed towards the highly homologous peptide sequences of PYRases provides reagents capable of detecting all microbial species capable of synthesizing a PYRase. On the other hand, nucleotide probes comprising fragments of the gene coding for the PYRase of a particular microbial species constitute specific reagents for the species in question.

The highly conserved peptide sequences present in the PYRases of various microbial species are those which correspond, in particular, to the peptides of formulae I to III given below. The subject of the present invention is hence a purified polypeptide containing at least one peptide sequence of at least six amino acids which is chosen from the peptide sequence shown in FIG. 3(SEQ ID NO:1), 5(SEQ ID NO:2), or 6(SEQ ID NO:3) possessing at least 40% homology with the peptide sequence shown in FIG. 3, 5 or 6.

The invention relates, in particular, to a purified polypeptide as defined above, characterized in that it possesses at least 20% identity with the peptide sequence shown in FIG. 3, 5 or 6.

The invention relates especially to a polypeptide as defined above, characterized in that it contains at least one peptide sequence of at least six amino acids which is chosen from the following sequences:

    __________________________________________________________________________     Glu--Arg--Val--Ala--Ile--Asn--X--X--Asp--Ala--Arg--Ile--Pro--Asp--Asn--        X--Gly--X--Gln--Pro--Ile--Asp (SEQ ID NO: 4) (I);                              Gly--X--X--Ala--X--Val--Ser--X--Thr--Ala--Gly--Thr--Phe--Val--Cys--Asn--       X--X--X--Tyr (SEQ ID NO: 5) (II);                                              Leu--X--Thr--Gly--Phe--X--Pro--Phe (SEQ ID NO: 6) (III);                       __________________________________________________________________________

in which sequences X is an amino acid.

The meanings of X in the peptides I, II and III, respectively, are, in particular, given below for Z₁, Z₂, Z₃ and Z₄, and especially those which are readily identifiable in FIG. 9.

The invention relates, in particular, to a polypeptide containing a peptide sequence of at least six amino acids which is chosen from the following:

    __________________________________________________________________________     Gly--Z.sub.1 --Z.sub.1 --Ala--X--Val--Ser--Z.sub.2 --Thr--Ala--Gly--Thr--P     he--Val--Cys--                                                                 Asn--Z.sub.4 --Z.sub.1 --Z.sub.1 --Tyr (SEQ ID NO: 7) (IIa), and               Leu--Z.sub.1 --Thr--Gly--Phe--Z.sub.3 --Pro--Phe (SEQ ID NO: 8)                __________________________________________________________________________     (IIIa),                                                                   

in which sequences:

Z₁, each independently of one another, represents Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Phe or Met;

Z₂, each independently of one another, represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Gys, Ash or Gln;

Z₃, each independently of one another, represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Ash, Gln, Ala, Asp or Glu; and

Z₄, each independently of one another, represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Ash, Gln, Lys, Arg or His.

The polypeptides of the invention can possess any number of amino acids greater than or equal to 6. The polypeptides of the invention are, in particular, the polypeptides having the formulae I to III, especially the polypeptides having the formulae Ia to IIIa, as well as the purified polypeptides or proteins containing at least the peptide sequence shown in FIG. 3, 5 or 6. The invention relates especially to a polypeptide having at least 40% homology with the polypeptide shown in FIG. 3, 5 or 6, as well as to a polypeptide having at least 20% identity, and in particular at least 30% identity, with one of the polypeptides of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.

The invention also encompasses peptide-protein conjugates in which a polypeptide as defined above is linked to an antigenic protein, either directly through a peptide bond or via a spacer arm. Coupling using a spacer arm is carried out according to known methods. Such conjugates may be used in the preparation of specific antibodies directed towards a polypeptide or a protein containing an amino acid sequence chosen from the polylpeptide sequences defined above, including those of formulae I to III (or IIa and IIIa).

By administration of such conjugates to a host (mammal or bird), it is possible to obtain polyclonal antibodies capable of recognizing peptide sequences defined above, chosen, for example, from those of formulae I to III, and also to prepare, according to known methods, monoclonal antibodies specific for the peptide sequences.

Such antibodies, which also form part of the invention, make it possible, in particular, to detect bacterial proteins having PYRase activity. For this detection, the antibodies are used according to conventional immunoassay techniques. Specifically, using two monoclonal antibodies each recognizing a different peptide chosen, in particular, from the peptide sequences of formulae I to III, it is possible to perform an immunological test of detection of a protein having PYRase activity according to the one-step sandwich technique.

The subject of the invention is also a purified polynucleotide (nucleic acid fragment) coding for a polypeptide as defined above, including a polynucleotide coding for a peptide fragment chosen from the sequence of the peptides of formulae I to III (in particular Ia to IIIa), as well as a polynucleotide coding for a fragment of at least 6 amino acids which is chosen from the peptide sequence of FIG. 3, 5 or 6. The invention also relates to a fragment of a purified polynucleotide as defined above, this fragment having at least 10 nucleotides. The invention encompasses, in addition, the polynucleotides or fragments complementary to the polynucleotides or fragments which have just been obtained.

The invention relates especially to such a polynucleotide, chosen from the nucleotide sequences shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, coding, respectively, for S.pyogenes, B.subtilis and S.fluorescens PYRase.

The invention encompasses all native or recombinant genes coding for an enzyme possessing PYRase activity whose protein homology is at least 40% and/or identity at least 20% with S.pyrogenes, S.fluorescens or B.subtilis PYRase.

The subject of the invention is also a recombinant cloning or expression vector containing a polynucleotide as defined above, and a transformed living cell containing said recombinant vector, especially a cell which can be cultured in vitro, for example a bacterial cell.

The subject of the present invention is also the use of a nucleic acid fragment (polynucleotide) coding for an enzyme having pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase activity, possessing at least one of the peptide sequences I to III (or IIa and IIIa), for the overproduction of this enzyme according to genetic techniques, using any suitable recombinant expression vector, in particular a plasmid, inserted into a host cell, by culturing the host cell thus transformed, or alternatively for any genetic construction, such as the construction of a "reporter" gene, in a cloning vector of any kind, using at least a portion of the nucleic acid fragment coding for this enzyme. The invention also relates to a DNA or RNA nucleic acid probe, characterized in that it contains a sequence of at least 10 nucleotides (or at least 12 or at least 15 nucleotides) belonging to a polynucleotide according to the invention as has just been defined, or a sequence complementary to said sequence. Special mention may be made of the oligonucleotides referred to in the experimental part below. Such probes may be used as capture probes (for example bound to a solid support in a known manner, in particular by adsorbtion or covalently, or using a coupling agent), or may be linked to a label (or tracer agent), in a known manner, to constitute a detection probe, according to conventional hybridization techniques. Specifically, the probes containing nucleotide sequences chosen from those shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 constitute specific detection probes for S.pyogenes, B.subtilis and S.fluorescens, respectively.

These nucleic acid probes are used in a known manner in bacterial detection, identification or epidemiology.

The subject of the invention is also a method for the detection of a gene coding for a pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase in a microorganism, using at least one nucleic acid probe as defined above. Such a method may be carried out according to conventional techniques, for example by sandwich hybridization. A nucleic acid probe bound to a support may be used as a capture probe, and a labeled probe may be used as a detection probe.

As stated above, the cloning of a pcp gene coding for a PYRase is hence, in particular, of interest in making possible any form of overproduction of this enzyme, and exportation into the culture medium of said enzyme, onto which, for example, a signal sequence favoring protein excretion has been grafted by genetic engineering in a known manner. Recourse to the production of cloned enzymes thus makes it possible to decrease very considerably the operating costs of the processes of purification of the enzyme of interest. The invention hence enables pcp genes of various bacterial organisms to be cloned and sequenced, in particular in order to be able to overproduce a PYRase. This cloning may, for example, be carried out on the organisms for which the Applicant has demonstrated PYRase activity, namely: Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus avium, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus malodoratus, Enterococcus suis, Enterococcus sp., Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus sp., Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus porcinus, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus acidominimus, Streptococcus boris, Streptococcus sp., Aerococcus viridans, Aerococcus sp., Micrococcus kristinae, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus lylae, Micrococcus varians, Micrococcus sp., Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, Stomatococcus sp., Gemella haemolysans, Gemella morbillorum, Gemella sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp., Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter sp., Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter amnigenus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter liquefaciens Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella edwardsii, Klebsiella ozaenae, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella cloacae, Klebsiella sp., Serratia marcescens, Serratia grimesii, Serratia sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus lentus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus schleiferi, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylocococcus xylosus Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus carnosus, Staphylococcus cohnii, Staphylococcus kloosii, Staphylococcus sp., Neisseria mucosa, Neisseria sp., Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus sp., Corynebacterium aquaticum, Corynebacterium bovis, Corynebacterium group A, Corynebacterium group ANF, Corynebacterium group B, Corynebacterium group G1, Corynebacterium group G2, Corynebacterium jeikeium, Corynebacterium kutscheri, Corynebacterium minutissimum, Corynebacterium pseudodiphteriticum, Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium xerosis, Actinomyces pyogenes, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Brevibacterium sp., Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Oerskovia spp., Rhodococcus equi.

A few definitions of terms used in the present application are given below:

PYRase means a native or recombinant protein possessing pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase activity which is expressed before or after post-translational modifications; pcp gene(s) means native or recombinant gene coding for pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase (PYRase) originating from bacterial organisms;

"Reporter" gene corresponds to a coding unit whose expression product is readily assayable or detectable. The expression of a reporter gene makes it possible, in particular, to study the function or content of a nucleic acid sequence placed in an expression vector upstream of the gene, for example those of a promoter or operator;

Consensus sequence corresponds to the ideal sequence in which each position represents the base most often encountered on comparison of several sequences;

Underlined bases are the bases which correspond to the consensus sequences;

Canonical promoter denotes the consensus sequence of the promoter;

Transcripts are the products of DNA transcription;

Nucleic acid fragment means DNA or RNA fragment;

Homology relates to homologous amino acids, that is to say amino acids which have the same chemical properties such as polarity and/or hydrophobicity and/or basicity and/or acidity and/or neutrality. An amino acid is also considered to be homologous to another if their respective codons for the amino acid differ by only one base, termed degenerate;

Identity refers to strictly identical amino acids;

Cosmids refers to plasmids into which the Cos sites of phage lambda have been inserted; the resulting plasmid DNA can be encapsidated in vitro in phage particles;

Plasmid means extrachromosomal circular DNA capable of replicating autonomously; Phagemid means plasmid into which an origin of replication of a phage has been inserted; the resulting DNA can be encapsidated in vivo in phage particles; inclusivity results means the set of bacterial strains leading to the obtaining of a PCR amplification product using the oligonucleotides employed, or of a hybridization signal with the pcp probe for S.pyogenes;

Exclusivity results means the set of bacterial strains not leading to the obtaining of a PCR amplification product using the oligonucleotides employed, or of a hybridization signal with the pcp probe for S.pyogenes.

According to the invention, the cloning vectors can be plasmids such as: pBR322, pUC18/pUC19, pUC118/pUC119, pSP64/pSP65, pGEM-3/pGEM-4, pGEM-37, AN3, pBluescript M13 or the like. The cloning vectors according to the present invention may also be chosen from cosmids such as pJB8, c2RB, pCos1EMb1, pHC79, pTM, pMCS, pNNL, pHSG274, pWE15, Charomid9 or the like. The cloning vectors of the present invention can, in addition, be prokaryotic expression vectors such as bacterial expression vectors, or yeast expression vectors, or eukaryotic expression vectors such as mammalian expression vectors. The host cells can be eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. Preferably, the host cells are prokaryotic cells; such as bacteria. Advantageously, bacterial host cells which do not express PYRase activity, such as E. coli cells, are chosen, but it is also possible to use bacterial host cells originally possessing PYRase activity, after carrying out a mutogenisis resulting in the disappearance of the PYRase activity in these bacteria. It is thus possible to clone Pseudomonas fluorescens PYRase in a mutant of this bacterium lacking PYRase activity. Preferably, according to the invention, E. coli is used as host cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be gained on reading the detailed description which follows, reference being made to the attached figures FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the main steps of subcloning of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene. In this figure, the partial restriction maps of plasmid pPC10 and its derivative are shown. The arrow indicates the location and the direction of transcription of the pcp gene, which is determined by the expression of the products of the 1.6-kb Bgl II-HPa I fragment of pPC20 in the specific system phage T7 promoter/polymerase. The + symbols denote the presence of PYRase activity, and the - symbols the absence of activity;

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the experimental approach used for the sequencing, hybridization and analysis of the pcp gene transcripts. Each arrow situated under the restriction map indicates the direction and length of a continuous sequence determination for obtaining the complete nucleotide sequence of the Hpa I-Spe I DNA fragment of pPC36 as shown in FIG. 1. The open reading frame identified and the pcp DNA probe synthesized by polymerization chain reaction with the oligonucleotides YR2 (a) and YU5 (b) are represented, respectively, by the hatched area and the bold lines. The location of the oligonucleotide YM1 (c) used for primer extension experiment and of the DNA probe for S1 nuclease mapping is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:1), which is used to refer to both of FIGS. 3A and 3B, shows the nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene and its flanking regions. The nucleotides are numbered from the 5' end of the antisense (untranscribed) strand. The deduced amino acid sequence is indicated above the DNA sequence by the three-letter code. The transcription initiation and termination codons are boxed. The restriction sites of interest and the oligonucleotides mentioned in the text are shown. -10 and -35 regions of the two promoters (P_(a) and P_(b)) as well as the presumed ribosome binding site (SD) are underlined. The inverted repeat sequences are symbolized by convergent arrows, and the stem-loop structure corresponding to the proposed transcription terminator is underlined in bold characters. +1 indicates the 5' (start) ends of the mRNA, determined by primer extension experiments. The 3' (stop) ends detected by S1 nuclease mapping are represented by asterisks below the sequence;

FIG. 4 shows the analysis by sucrose gel electrophoresis and hybridization according to Southern's method of the Streptococcus pyogenes, Enteroccus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis genome. A corresponds to the electrophoretic separation of the DNA fragments on 0.7% agarose gel. Plasmid pPC20, as shown in FIG. 1, is digested with the restriction endonucleases Bgl II and Hpa I (lane 1). S. pyogenes genomic DNA (approximately 50 μg/lane) was digested with Hpa I (lane 2) and Bgl II (lane 3). E. faecalis DNA (lane 4) and B. subtilis DNA (lane 5) are digested, respectively, with Hind III and Rsa I. The molecular weight scale (M) consists of Raoul II (Appligene) (trade mark). B corresponds to the autoradiograph of the Southern transfer hybridized with the pcp gene probe synthesized by PCR as shown in FIG. 2. The signal of the 1.6-kb restriction fragment (lane 1) constitutes the evidence of strict homology with the probe under stringent hybridization conditions. A hybridization signal is observed only in the case of S. pyogenes;

FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:2) shows the nucleotide sequence of the coding portion of the Bacillus subtilis pcp gene. The nucleotides are numbered from the 5' end to the 3' end of the antisense (untranscribed) strand. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleic acid sequence is indicated below the DNA sequence;

FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6) shows the nucleotide sequence of the coding portion of the Pseudomonas fluorescens pcp gene. The nucleotides are numbered from the 5' end to the 3' end of the antisense (untranscribed) strand. The peptide sequence is indicated below the DNA sequence according to the three-letter code;

FIG. 7, which is used herein to refer to all of FIGS. 7A-1, 7A-2, 7A-3, 7B-1, 7B-2 and 7B-3 corresponds to a comparative analysis of the homology of the Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens pcp genes (FIGS. 7B-1, 7B-2 and 7B-3) and of the corresponding proteins (FIGS. 7A-1, 7A-2 and 7A-3) by the establishment of comparison matrices. The numbering indicates, respectively, the nucleotide or amino acid residues. The data were established with the MacVector (IBI) (trade mark) sequence analysis software using the following parameters: (1) nucleic acid comparison: analysis window=30 residues, minimum homology score=65%, rejection value=6 residues. (2) protein comparison: analysis window=8 residues, minimum homology score=50%, rejection value=2 residues;

FIG. 8, which is used herein to refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B, shows the comparison of the amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene (lower sequence) and (SEQ ID NO:10) that of Bacillus subtilis (upper sequence) (SEQ ID NO:9). In this figure, the amino acids are indicated by the three-letter code and the following alignment symbols are used: (|) corresponds to identical amino acids, (:) corresponds to highly homologous amino acids and (.) corresponds to amino acids possessing low homology, the amino acids which are not joined by a symbol corresponding to heterologous amino acids. The sequence discontinuities imposed by the optimal alignment are represented by dashes (-);

FIG. 9, which is used herein to refer to both of FIGS. 9A and 9B, shows the optimal alignment of the amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by the pcp genes of Streptococcus pyogenes (upper sequence) (SEQ ID NO:11), Pseudomonas fluorescens (middle sequence) (SEQ ID NO:12) and Bacillus subtilis (lower sequence) (SEQ ID NO:13). In this figure, the amino acids are indicated by the three-letter code and the symbols and the numbering corresponds to the amino acid residues of the Streptococcus pyogenes protein. In this figure, the amino acids are indicated by the three-letter code and the conserved peptide units are boxed (shaded). The consensus common to the three peptide sequences (SEQ ID NO:14) is indicated in bold characters below the conserved regions, the letter "X" denoting the absence of identity of the amino acids. The sequence discontinuities imposed for producing the optimal alignment are represented by dashes (-); and

FIG. 10 represents an analysis of the expression products of the DNA coding for PYRase activity by the phage T7 promoter/polymerase system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A shows the electrophoretic separation on denaturing polyacrylemide gel of the proteins synthesized in vivo by E.col K38/pGP1-2 possessing plasmid pT7-5 (lane 1), pPC39 (lane 2), pT7-6 (lane 3) and pPC40 (lane 4). Staining of the proteins is carried out with Coomassie blue; the arrow indicates the expression product of approximately 25 kDa relative to the molecular weight markers (M) (Bethesda Research Laboratories) (trade mark). B represents the corresponding autoradiograph of the gel. The exclusive labeling of the overexpressed protein of interest of pPC39 confirms the direction of transcription of the pcp gene shown in FIG. 1.

Unless specified, all the methods relating to the experiments which are presented below were carried out according to Sambrook et al. (Molecular cloning. A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

Example 1: cloning of the pcp gene coding for Streptococcus pyogenes PYRase

A library of genes of Streptococcus pyogenes strain D471 (Group A of Lancefield, type 6 protein M) (Scott and Fischetti, Science, 1983, 221, 758-760), which possesses PYRase activity, was constructed in Escherichia coli strain C600NR (λcI857) (Scott and Fischetti, Science, 1983, 221, 758-760). S. pyogenes chromosomal DNA, extracted according to the method of Chassy (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 1976, 68, 603-608), was partially digested with the restriction enzyme Mbo I in order to obtain a random series of fragments ranging from 30 to 50 kilobases (kb). The latter were inserted into cosmid pJB8 (Ish-Horowicz and Burke, Nucl. Acids Res., 1981, 9, 2989-2998) linearized by complete digestion using the endonuclease Bam HI. These recombinant vectors were introduced in vitro inside phage λ capsids (Hohn and Collins, Gene, 1980, 11, 291-298) using a Gigapack plus kit (Stratagene, trade mark). The resulting phages were used to transduce the strain C600NR, and bacterial colonies possessing the ampicillin resistance conferred by the cosmid were selected at 30° C.

These bacterial colonies were screened in situ on agar medium using the pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase test (Mulczyk and Szewczuk, J. Gen. Microb., 1970, 61, 9-13). Extraction of the recombinant plasmids from Escherichia coli clones possessing PYRase activity enabled plasmid pPC10 as shown FIG. 1, containing a 5-kb chromosomal DNA fragment of S. pyogenes, to be isolated. Introduction of pPC10 into E. coli JM83 bacteria (Yannish-Perron et aI., Gene, 1985, 33,103-109) led to the production of transformants systematically possessing PYRase activity, confirming that the isolated DNA segment actually codes for this enzyme (Cleuziat et al., Mol. Microbiol., 1992, 6, 2051-2063).

Example 2: subcloning of the pcp gene coding for Streptococcus pyogenes PYRase

Different endonucleases were used to establish a restriction map of the DNA fragment of interest contained in pPC10 (FIG. 1). This made it possible to localize more accurately the DNA region coding for the PYRase. The main steps in this subcloning are summarized in FIG. 1. Isolation and insertion of the Eco RI-Ava I fragment of pPC10 into the Eco RI-Sal I sites of the vector pBluescript KS⁺ (trade mark, Stratagene), leading to plasmid pPC20, permits detection of the PYRase activity in E. coli strain NM522 (Gough and Murray, J. Mol. Biol., 1983, 166, 1-19) transformed with this plasmid. According to the diagram of FIG. 1, plasmids pPC20.01, pPC20.02, pPC20.03, pPC30 and pPC36 were prepared and studied successively. The smallest DNA region conferring PYRase activity consists of a 1.3-kb Spe I-Hpa I restriction fragment (pPC36), the restriction map of which is detailed in FIG. 2.

Example 3: sequencing of the Spe I--Hpa I restriction fragment of pPC36

The complete nucleotide sequence of the two complementary strands of the Spe I--Hpa I fragment of plasmid pPC36 was determined by the chain termination method (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1977, 74, 5463-5467), according to the strategy described in FIG. 2, on double-stranded DNA templates. This sequence, described in FIG. 3, discloses the presence of a single open reading frame of 645 nucleotides. This open reading frame, the beginning of which is situated at the ATG initiation codon at position 285 and which terminates at the TAAstop codon located at position 930, codes for a 23135-Da protein composed of 215 amino acids and possessing a statistical isoelectric point of 7.3.

Example 4: analysis of the nucleotide sequence

This gene coding for pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase was designated pcp. It is preceded by a ribosome binding site (AAAGGA), the location and sequence of which are comparable to those described in other Gram-positive organisms (Moran et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 1982, 186, 339-386). Two promoters (Pa and Pb) preceding the coding frame of pcp (FIG. 3) have been identified (Cleuziat, Doctorate es Sciences Thesis: Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon, 1992, 157 p).

Example 5: analysis of the RNA transcripts

By carrying out primer extension experiments, it was possible to localize the 5' end of the pcp transcript, corresponding to the transcription start-site of this gene in the recombinant strain E. coli NM522/pPC30. For this purpose, the total RNA of this bacterium was extracted according to a method described by Shimotsu et al., (J. Bacteriol., 1986, 166, 466-471). The oligonucleotide YM1 (^(5') dAATAGCTTCGCCGCCAAAGGGATCAAAGCC^(3')) (SEQ ID NO:15), complementary to nucleotides 303 to 332 (FIG. 3), was labeled at its 5' end with [γ-³² P]-ATP (6000 Ci/mmol) with T4 polynucleotide kinase and hybridizedunder stringent conditions with the total RNA. Its extension with reverse transcriptase (FIG. 2) enabled two cDNAs to be detected, differing from one another by only one nucleotide and corresponding to a start of transcription situated on the G at position 257 or the T at position 258 (FIG. 3). The first position proves to be more in agreement with the fact that transcription generally starts on a purine base (A, G) and occasionally on a pyrimidine base (C, T) (Rosenberg and Court, Ann. Rev. Genet., 1979, 13, 319-353).

Two inverted repeat sequences were identified on the nucleotide sequence (FIG. 3). The shorter, situated within the A/T-rich region and partially overlapping the promoter sequences, constitutes a potential binding site for a regulatory protein (Gicquel-Sanzey and Cossart, EMBO J., 1982, 1, 591-595). The longer, situated 25 bases downstream of the TGA stop codon of pcp, is involved in the termination of transcription of pcp (Rosenberg and Court, Ann. Rev. Genet., 1979, 13, 319-353). Determination of the 3' end of the pcp transcript by the S1 nuclease mapping technique enabled the stem-loop structure responsible for the termination of transcription to be identified within this inverted repeat sequence. An Afl III-Ssp I restriction fragment of plasmid pPC36 (FIG. 2) was labeled at its 3' end using [α-³² P]-dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol) with the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. This probe of 353 nucleotides, overlapping the coding region over a zone of 21 bases (FIG. 3), was hybridized with the total RNA extracted from the recombinant E. coli bacterium obtained by transformation using plasmid pPC30. The whole was then subjected to the action of S1 nuclease according to defined conditions (Brakhage et al., Biochimie, 1990, 72, 725-734) in order to digest any single-stranded DNA fragment which is not protected by hybridization with the mRNA. Determination of the size of the fragments obtained consecutively under these conditions enabled it to be demonstrated that transcription stops between nucleotides 981 and 986 included in the nucleotide sequence (FIG. 3).

Example 6: Determination of the copy number of the pcp gene within the Streptococcus pyogenes genome

Hybridization experiments according to Southern's method showed that the S. pyogenes genome comprises only one copy of the pcp gene. To do this, the DNA of this organism, extracted according to the method of Chassy (Biophys. Res. Comm., 1976, 68, 603-608), was digested with the restriction endonucleases Hpa I and Bgl II, which do not cut the pcp gene, and subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Transfer of the genetic material was carried out by capillarity onto a nylon membrane before hybridization with a double-stranded DNA probe, synthesized by polymerization chain reaction (PCR), comprising the larger part of the coding region of the pcp gene. PCR was carried out as described by Saiki et al., (Science, 1988, 239, 487-491) on a double-stranded plasmid DNA template (pPC30) using AmpliTaq (Perkin Elmer Cetus, trade mark), employing the oligonucleotides YR2 (^(5') dACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGG^(3')) (SEQ ID NO:16) and YU5 corresponding to positions 300 to 319 and complementary to 759 to 778 of the sequence, respectively (FIG. 3). This 479-base pair fragment was purified on agarose gel and radioactively labeled with [α-³² P]-dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol), using the "random priming" kit (Boehringer, trade mark). The hybridization and washing conditions, termed stringent, were carried out in a known manner in order to permit hybridization of the pcp probe only with a completely homologous DNA target. To this end, a control was set up by double digestion of plasmid pPC20 with the endonucleases Hpa I and Bgl II. FIG. 4 shows that a positive hybridization signal was obtained for the 1.6-kb fragment containing the pcp gene, while the 4-kb fragment corresponding to the cloning vector and to the DNA regions of S. pyogenes flanking pcp did not disclose any signal. The presence of a single hybridization signal in the case of each digestion of DNA confirms that pcp is a single-copy gene in the S. pyogenes genome. The size of the bands observed (6.8 kb and 4.1 kb) is in complete agreement with the restriction map of the DNA region coding for the PYRase.

The pcp gene did not disclose any homology with the nucleotide and protein sequences present in the databases (Genbank, version No. 68 of Jun. 15, 1991).

Example 7: analysis and comparison of pcp genes originating for different bacterial species

The work performed on the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene was extrapolated to other bacterial organisms possessing PYRase activity.

From a library of Bacillus subtilis genes constructed in Escherichia coli in plasmid pMK4 (Debarbouille et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 1987, 41, 137-140), the cloning and molecular characterization of the Bacillus subtilis pcp gene were carried out according to the techniques described above for S. pyogenes. The sequence of the coding portion of this gene together with that of the protein for which it codes are indicated in FIG. 5. The B. subtilis pcp gene possesses a length of 645 nucleotides and codes for a protein of 215 amino acids of theoretical molecular weight equal to 23777 Da (Awade et al., FEBS Lett., 1992, 305, 67-73).

No homology of nucleotide or protein sequence could be determined by comparison with the databases of existing sequences. Similarly, there is very little homology between the S. pyogenes pcp gene and that of B. subtilis, although these genes are both composed of exactly 645 nucleotides. FIG. 7 shows that, despite a complete absence of homology from the nucleotide standpoint (B), the corresponding proteins are extremely conserved (A). The primary structure of the PYRases of S. pyogenes and of B. subtilis were compared (FIG. 8): the alignment of these two proteins is based on the "BestFit" program (University of Wisconsin) using the algorithm of Devereux et al., (Nucl. Acid Res., 1984, 12, 387-395). The two proteins contain the same number of amino acids (215 residues). Their total sequences possess 47.5% identity and greater than 66% homology, indicating a very high degree of conservation of these proteins. Some zones can have up to 80% identity and greater than 87% homology, as is the case with the unit of 41 amino acids Gln-Pro-Asp-Ala-Val-Leu-Cys-Ile-Gly-Gln-Ala-Gly-Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Leu-Thr-Pro-Glu-Arg-Val-Ala-Ile-Asn-Gln-AsP-AsP-Ala-Arg-Ile-Pro-Asp-Asn-Glu- Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Ile-Asp (SEQ ID NO:17) (residues 59 to 99 inclusive) of S. pyogenes PYRase. The regions situated in the vicinity of the cysteine residues (S. pyogenes Cys 65, Cys 141 and Cys 156) are also highly conserved, in particular the units Gly-Leu-Pro-Ala-Ser-Val-Ser-Asn-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Phe-Val-Cys-Asn-His-Leu-Met-Tyr (SEQ ID NO:18) (residues 129 to 146 inclusive) (75% identity, 85% homology) and Cys-pro-Asn-Ala-Lys-Ala-Gly-Phe-Met-His-Ile-Pro-Phe-Met (SEQ ID NO:19) (residues 156 to 169 inclusive) (42% identity and 93% homology). Other, shorter regions possess large homologies: the fragments of 11 amino acids Lys-Ile-Leu-Val-Thr-Gly-Phe-Asp-Pro-Phe-GlY and Glu-Val-Pro-Thr-Val-Phe (SEQ ID NO:20) (residues 2 to 12 inclusive) (72% identity, 100% homology) and of 6 amino acids (residues 39 to 44 inclusive) (66% identity, 100% homology).

Moreover, following the construction of a library of genes of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A32 (Gugi et al., J. Bacteriol., 1991, 173, 3814-3820) in the host Escherichia coli DH5α in plasmid pUC19, the cloning and molecular characterization of the Pseudomonas fluorescens pcp gene were also carried out according to the techniques described above for S. pyogenes. The sequence of the coding portion of this gene together with that of the protein for which it codes are indicated in FIG. 6. The Pseudomonas fluorescens pcp gene possesses a length of 639 nucleotides and codes for a protein of 213 amino acids of 22436 Da.

No homology of nucleotide or protein sequence could be determined by comparison with the databases of existing sequences. Similarly, there is very little homology between the Pseudomonas fluorescens pcp gene and those of S. pyogenes and B. subtilis, although these genes are composed of an almost identical number of nucleotides. FIG. 7 shows that, despite a complete absence of homology from the nucleotide standpoint (B), the corresponding proteins are extremely homologous (A). The PYRase of P. fluoroscens possesses globally 47% identity and 66% homology with that of B. subtilis, and 39% identity and 62% homology with that of S. pyogenes. The structure of the bacterial PYRases hence appears to be highly conserved from the peptide standpoint, although the nucleotide sequences coding for the corresponding peptides are very divergent.

Determination of the optimal alignment using the program mentioned above from the three PYRases characterized makes it possible to bring out the major peptide units of these enzymes (FIG. 9). Three highly conserved units, included in those determined above between B. subtilis and S. pyogenes (FIG. 8), are clearly seen (FIG. 9), from which the consensus of identity (bold character) may be deduced. With respect to the numbering of S. pyogenes PYRase, the units involved are Leu-Val-Thr-Gly-Phe-Asp-Pro-Phe (residues 4 to 11 inclusive) (75% identity and 100% homology), Glu-Arg-Val-Ala-Ile-Asn-Gln-Asp-Asp-Ala-Arg-Ile-Pro-Asp-Asn-Glu-Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Ile-Asp (SEQ ID NO:21) (residues 78 to 99 inclusive) (82% identity and 86% homology) and Val-Ser-Asn-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Phe-Val-Cys-Asn (SEQ ID NO:22) (residues 132 to 142 inclusive) (91% identity and 100% homology). This unit, the most highly conserved of all, contains the cystein residue common to the three PYRases (Streptococcus pyogenes Cys 141). It is probably the one involved in the catalytic site of this family of enzymes.

Example 8: detection of pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase by antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies specifically directed towards one of the peptides Gln-Pro-Asp-Ala-Val-Leu-Cys-Ile-Gly-Gln-Ala-Gly-Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Leu-Thr-Pro-Glu-Arg-Val-Ala-Ile-Asn-Gln-AsP-AsP-Ala-Arg-Ile-Pro-Asp-Asn-Glu- Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Ile-Asp (SEQ ID NO:23), Gly-Leu-Pro-Ala-Ser-Val-Ser-Asn-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Phe-Val-Cys-Asn-His-Leu-Met-Tyr (SEQ ID NO:24), Cys-Pro-Asn-Ala-Lys-Ala-Gly-Phe-Met-His-Ile-Pro-Phe-Met (SEQ ID NO:25), Lys-Ile-Leu-Val-Thr-Gly-Phe-Asp-Pro-Phe-Gly (SEQ ID NO:26) and Glu-Val-Pro-Thr-Val-Phe described above in Example 7 were produced. To do this, these peptides, previously synthesized and purified, were separately grafted onto the protein KLH (high molecular weight immunogenic molecule): 5 mg of protein and 5 mg of peptide are brought into contact in a volume of 2 ml of 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.5, and coupling is carried out by adding 1 ml of 20 mM glutaraldehyde. The conjugates obtained were dialyzed overnight against PBS buffer. Rabbits were then immunized by intramuscular injection of 1 ml of the solution obtained above, added to 1 ml of Freund's complete adjuvant. A booster was performed one month after the initial injection, and a volume of blood of 20 ml was withdrawn one week after this booster. After coagulation, the serum fraction is filtered and immunoglobulins are purified on a Sepharose protein A affinity column (Pharmacia, trade mark) according to the protocol recommended by the supplier. The specificity of the antibodies obtained was tested by conventional immunological detection methods (ELISA). For this purpose, each peptide described above, the immunogenic molecule KLH and bovine serumalbumin (BSA) were adsorbed individually on the wells of microtitration plates (Nunc, trade mark). By bringing each category of purified polyclonal antibodies into contact, and detecting the latter with goat anti-rabbit antibodies coupled to peroxidase (Sigma, trade mark), it was shown that the antibodies obtained recognize specifically and exclusively the peptides with which the immunization was performed. No cross-reaction was observed between, on the one hand each category of antibodies, and on the other hand the other peptides which were not used for obtaining them. The antibodies obtained also made it possible to detect pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase in Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis and also other bacteria possessing such an enzymatic activity. Since this enzyme is located in the intracellular compartment, its detection in the microorganisms involved prior lysis of the cells by physical or chemical means. In this case, the lysis was carried out by disintegration of the cell membranes under the action of ultrasound (sonication). By taking up and washing the sonicate in 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.5, the presence of the enzyme could be determined by the immunological method described above. No positive reaction could be observed using organisms not possessing enzymatic activity, confirming the specificity of the purified antibodies. These results hence confirm the conservation and specificity of the peptide units studied within the pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidases (PYRases) originating from microorganisms.

Example 9: detection of Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A β-hemolytic streptococci)

The detection of Streptococcus pyogenes is of very great importance in clinical bacteriology, since this organism is the source of numerous and varied pathologies in man. Group A β-hemolytic streptococci, which correspond to the species Streptococcus pyogenes, can be responsible for many disorders such as pharyngitis, sore throat, sinusitis, osteomyelitis, cellulitis and various skin disorders, endocarditis, meningitis, etc. They are known above all to be responsible for scarlet fever, the two main secondary manifestations of which are acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) (Delmas and Freney, Lyon Pharmaceutique, 1989, 40, 353-369). Some of these pathologies can be lethal (Bartter et al., Arch. Intern. Med., 1987, 148, 1421-1424).

At present, the identification of Group A streptococci in medical microbiology involves study of hemolysis on blood agar, testing for a Lancefield Group A antigen or for physiological and biochemical characters (API 20 STREP identification gallery, marketed by the company bioMerieux). The need to identify the streptococci responsible for acute infections rapidly has led to the development of agglutination techniques (Malbrunot et al., Pathologie Biologie, 1990, 35, 665-668) permitting the direct recognition of Group A antigens (Slidex-strepto kit, BioMerieux) from the primary culture colonies. These methods can nevertheless make it obligatory to perform enrichment and isolation steps sometimes necessitating up to 48 hours, and they possess limits from the standpoint of sensitivity.

The use of DNA probes decreases the time needed for establishment of the diagnosis by direct and sensitive detection of microbes from biological samples. In effect, DNA probes may be used for the detection of particular organisms in biological samples as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,535 in the name of Falkow et al. Probes for Group A streptococci have already been proposed, such as oligonucleotides for the type 1 protein M gene of Streptococcus pyogenes (Podbielski et al., Med. Microbiol. Immunol. 1990, 179, 255-262) or the type A exotoxin gene (Yu and Ferretti, Infect. Immun., 1989, 57, 3715-3719). These probes are, however, specific for targets which define several subgroups within Group A streptococci, and hence do not make it possible to detect the whole of the species; hence there does not exist at present a DNA probe for the detection of Streptococcus pyogenes.

The feasability and specificity of detection or of identification of Group A streptococci has been demonstrated below using an experimental protocol employing PCR or Southern hybridization.

a) study by PCR

Different pairs of primers covering the region of the pcp gene were tested in respect of the specificity of obtaining an amplified fragment from genomic DNA of various bacteria. These pairs of primers are shown in Table 1 below.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Pairs of oligonucleotides used in PCR                                          Pair.sup.a                  Name                                                                               Position.sup.b                                                                       Size of the product.sup.c                __________________________________________________________________________     1: ACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 16)                                                                    YR2 300-319                                        2: TTCTGGCGTTAGTCCAGTCC (SEQ ID NO: 27)                                                                    YU3 499-518                                                                              219                                      1: ACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 16)                                                                    YR2 300-319                                        2: TATCAGGAATGCGAGCATCG (SEQ ID NO: 24)                                                                    YU8 539-558                                                                              259                                      1: ACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 16)                                                                    YR2 300-319                                        2: TGCATAAACCCAGCTTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 29)                                                                    YU5 759-778                                                                              479                                      1: TTGCCAGCAACCATTCATGG (SEQ ID NO: 30)                                                                    YR4 360-379                                        2: AGAAACAGAAGCAGGAAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 31)                                                                    YU9 664-683                                                                              324                                      1: TTGCCAGCAACCATTCATGG (SEQ ID NO: 30)                                                                    YR4 360-379                                        2: TGCATAAACCCAGCTTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 29)                                                                    YU5 759-778                                                                              419                                      1: AAAATCTGCCGATGTGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 32)                                                                    YR5 419-438                                        2: AGAAACAGAAGCAGGAAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 31)                                                                    YU9 664-683                                                                              265                                      1: AAAATCTGCCGATGTGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 32)                                                                    YR5 419-438                                        2: TGCATAAACCCAGCTTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 29)                                                                    YU5 759-778                                                                              360                                      1: CTTTGTATTGGGCAAGCTGG (SEQ ID NO: 33)                                                                    YR6 474-4 93                                       2: AGAAACAGAAGCAGGAAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 31)                                                                    YU9 664-683                                                                              210                                      1: CTTTGTATTGGGCAAGCTGG (SEQ ID NO: 33)                                                                    YR6 474-493                                        2: TACTGGCAAACTATACCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 34)                                                                    YU4 1075-1094                                                                            621                                      1: TGCTCGCATTCCTGATAACG (SEQ ID NO: 35)                                                                    YR7 542-561                                        2: TGCATAAACCCAGCTTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 29)                                                                    YU5 759-778                                                                              237                                      1: TGCTCGCATTCCTGATAACG (SEQ ID NO: 35)                                                                    YR7 542-561                                        2: TACTGGCAAACTATACCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 34)                                                                    YU4 1075-1094                                                                            553                                      1: ATCAAAGCGATGGTTGCTGC (SEQ ID NO: 36)                                                                    YR8 630-649                                        2: TACTGGCAAACTATACCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 34)                                                                    YU4 1075-1094                                                                            465                                      1: ATCAAAGCGATGGTTGCTGC (SEQ ID NO: 36)                                                                    YR8 630-649                                        2: CCCTATCTCAATGCTTAACG (SEQ ID NO: 37)                                                                    YU1 1297-1316                                                                            687                                      1: TCAAAAATCTGCCGATGTGC (SEQ ID NO: 38)                                                                    YF1 416-435                                        2: AGGAAGCCCAGCCTGATGAA (SEQ ID NO: 39)                                                                    YF2 652-671                                                                              256                                      __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a sense oligonucleotide (corresponding to the sequence); 2: antisens      oligonucleotide (reverse and complementary to the sequence). The               nucleotide sequence is indicated from the 5' end to the 3' end                 .sup.b the numbering corresponds to that of the sequence described in FIG      3.                                                                             .sup.c the size of the amplification product is indicated in base pairs. 

The bacteria studied (international collection strains and strains of clinical origin) were isolated and cultured on suitable agar medium.

A 5 ml ampoule of heart-brain broth is inoculated with a bacterial clone originating from a 12-hour culture on agar medium, and is incubated at 37° C. under conditions appropriate to each organism. The concentration of the bacteria in the exponential growth phase is determined by measuring the optical density at 590 nm, and a volume corresponding to a quantity of 10⁸ bacteria (approximately 100 μl) is centrifuged for 5 minutes at 14,000 rpm in a sterile microtube. The bacterial pellet is washed with 200 μl of physiological saline (0.9% NaCl), centrifuged again and resuspended in 100 μl of Tween 20 buffer (0.45% in sterile distilled H₂ O). The sample is then heated to 100° C. for 5 minutes) in order to lyse the bacteria, and then cooled on ice or frozen for subsequent use. 10 μl of bacterial lysate, equivalent to the DNA originating from approximately 10⁷ bacteria, are used per PCR test.

The composition of the reaction mixture used for the PCR is strictly that described by Saiki et al., (Science, 1988, 239, 487-491). The reaction was carried out using AmpliTaq (Perkin Elmer Cetus, trade mark) on a Thermal Reactor apparatus (Hybaid, trade mark) according to the following temperature cycle:

(92° C., 5 min)

[(60° C., 30 sec), (75° C., 30 sec), (95° C., 15 sec)] 40 times

(60° C., 30 sac)

(75° C., 10 min)

1/10th of the amplification product (10 μl) is analyzed by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel relative to molecular weight markers.

No difference could be observed regarding the specificity of the oligonucleotide pairs used for the amplification of a DNA fragment from the bacterial genome: the specificity results obtained for each bacterial strain studied were the same irrespective of the pair used.

The quantitative results nevertheless vary slightly according to the pair studied. The oligo-nucleotide pair YF1-YF2 is the one which enabled the best amplification yields to be obtained. These oligonucleotides prove especially advantageous from the standpoint of sensitivity of detection of the microorganisms by molecular hybridization techniques. The qualitative results described for YF1-YF2 in Tables 2 and 3 below, collating, respectively, the bacterial species which did or did not give a positive amplification signal, can be fully extrapolated to the other pairs of oligonucleotides.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Inclusivity results                                                                                            Hybrid-                                              Inter-                    ization    VIDAS                               LRA   national                                                                              Bacterial     PYRase                                                                              pcp  PCR ampli-                                                                           detec-                              Collection                                                                           collection                                                                            species       activity                                                                            probe*                                                                              fication**                                                                           tion***                             __________________________________________________________________________           JRS4   Streptococcus pyogenes M6                                                                    +    +    +     2306                                77-01-085                                                                            NCTC 8191                                                                             Streptocoque groupe A                                                                        +    +    +     693                                 84-05-026    Streptocoque groupe A                                                                        +    +    +     519                                 77-01-083                                                                            NCTC 10879                                                                            Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     981                                 89-11-070    Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     704                                 89-11-071    Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     3153                                83-02-114    Streptocoque groupe A                                                                        +    +    +     5707                                89-11-070    Streptocoque groupe A                                                                        +    +    +     6287                                78-06-155    Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     2682                                76-11-002                                                                            ATCC 12202                                                                            Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     1929                                77-01-028                                                                            ATCC 12203                                                                            Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     2013                                77-01-029                                                                            NCTC 10085                                                                            Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     2527                                77-01-030                                                                            NCTC 8306                                                                             Streptococcus pyogenes                                                                       +    +    +     1991                                __________________________________________________________________________      *Hybridization results obtained using the doublestranded DNA probe             corresponding to the coding frame of the Streptococcus pyrogenes pcp gene      **Results of PCR amplification using the pair of primers YF1YF2                ***Results of enzymatic (alkaline phosphatase) activity following capture      and detection of the amplification products                              

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Exclusivity results                                                                                            Hybrid-                                              Inter-                    ization    VIDAS                               LRA   national                                                                              Bacterial     PYRase                                                                              pcp  PCR ampli-                                                                           detec-                              Collection                                                                           collection                                                                            species       activity                                                                            probe*                                                                              fication**                                                                           tion***                             __________________________________________________________________________           CG110  Enterococcus faecalis                                                                        +    -    -     5                                   83-10-064    Enterococcus faecalis                                                                        +    -    -     5                                   89-10-032    Enterococcus faecium                                                                         +    -    -     4                                   84-07-114    Enterococcus durans                                                                          +    -    -     6                                   89-10-033    Enterococcus avium                                                                           +    -    -     7                                   87-12-068    Enterococcus gallinarum                                                                      +    -    -     6                                   84-10-087    Enterococcus malodoratus                                                                     +    -    -     8                                   89-09-060    Enterococcus suis I                                                                          +    -    -     6                                   90-02-014    Streptococcus uberis                                                                         -    -    -     7                                   86-03-031    Streptococcus equisimilis                                                                    +    -    -     9                                   76-11-006                                                                            ATCC 35666                                                                            Streptococcus equisimilis                                                                    -    -    -     5                                   89-04-053                                                                            ATCC 12401                                                                            Streptococcus agalactiae                                                                     -    -    -     8                                   78-11-148                                                                            NCTC 10234                                                                            Streptococcus suis II                                                                        -    -    -     7                                   80-02-036                                                                            NCTC 7864                                                                             Streptococcus sanguis II                                                                     +    -    -     5                                   77-01-036                                                                            NCTC 6177                                                                             Streptococcus zooepidemicus                                                                  -    -    -     5                                   84-11-031    Streptococcus salivarius                                                                     -    -    -     9                                   85-10-113    Streptococcus pneumoniae                                                                     +    -    -     8                                   78-04-060                                                                            NCTC 7465T                                                                            Streptococcus pneumoniae                                                                     -    -    -     5                                   89-04-053    Group B streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     7                                   77-01-032                                                                            NCTC 9828                                                                             Group B streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     5                                   77-09-006                                                                            NCTC 10228                                                                            Group E streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     6                                   86-12-029    Group G streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     9                                   77-01-039    Group G streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     8                                   77-01-038                                                                            NCTC 9603                                                                             Group G streptocoque                                                                         -    -    -     8                                                Aerococcus viridans                                                                          +    -    -     9                                   89-10-001    Aerococcus viridans                                                                          +    -    -     11                                  78-11-159    Aerococcus viridans                                                                          +    -    -     8                                   75-15-060                                                                            ATCC 25571                                                                            Micrococcus kristinae                                                                        +    -    -     10                                  89-08-091    Lactococus lactis ssp. cremoris                                                              -    -    -     12                                  89-09-022    Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis                                                               -    -    -     7                                   89-06-176    Stomatococcus mucilaginosus                                                                  +    -    -     8                                   89-01-032    Listeria sp.  -    -    -     15                                        C304   Corynebacterium glutamicum                                                                   -    -    -                                         89-04-074    Pseudomonas fluorescens                                                                      +    -    -     10                                  89-06-024    Psuedomonas fluorescens                                                                      +    -    -     7                                   89-06-025    Pseudomonas fluorescens                                                                      -    -    -     9                                   88-06-067    Shigella sp.  -    -    -     10                                        P4X    Escherichia coli K-12                                                                        -    -    -     8                                   83-09-123    Escherichia vulneris                                                                         -    -    -     10                                  73-08-010                                                                            ATCC 8090                                                                             Citrobacter freundii                                                                         +    -    -     4                                   76-03-117    Citrobacter freundii                                                                         +    -    -     6                                   73-08-013                                                                            ATCC 13047                                                                            Enterobacter cloacae                                                                         +    -    -     6                                   75-08-036                                                                            ATCC 13048                                                                            Enterobacter aerogenes                                                                       +    -    -     6                                   89-09-015    Enterobacter aerogenes                                                                       +    -    -     8                                   81-09-011                                                                            ATCC 33072                                                                            Enterobacter amnigenus                                                                       +    -    -     7                                   85-05-027    Klebsiella pneumoniae                                                                        +    -    -     7                                   75-01-109    Klebsiella oxytoca                                                                           +    -    -     10                                  75-09-007                                                                            ATCC 810                                                                              Serratia marcescens                                                                          +    -    -     10                                  85-01-018                                                                            ATCC 29909                                                                            Serratia grimesii                                                                            +    -    -     10                                  75-09-008                                                                            ATCC 25923                                                                            Staphylococcus aureus                                                                        +    -    -     9                                   87-12-083                                                                            ATCC 43809                                                                            Staphylococcus lugdenensis                                                                   +    -    -     7                                   75-15-313                                                                            ATCC 27848                                                                            Staphylococcus simulans                                                                      +    -    -     8                                   82-02-100                                                                            ATCC 29663                                                                            Staphylococcus intermedius                                                                   +    -    -     9                                   75-15-306                                                                            ATCC 29970                                                                            Staphylococcus haemolyticus                                                                  +    -    -     10                                  90-04-012                                                                            ATCC 13102                                                                            Neisseria meningitidis                                                                       -    -    -     8                                   76-11-014    Neisseria mucosa                                                                             +    -    -     8                                   86-06-009                                                                            ATCC 19695                                                                            Neisseria mucosa                                                                             -    -    -     10                                  87-12-074    Bacillus megaterium                                                                          +    -    -     8                                   78-02-084                                                                            NCTC 10400                                                                            Bacillus subtilis                                                                            +    -    -     6                                   78-02-085                                                                            NCTC 10320                                                                            Bacillus cereus                                                                              +    -    -     15                                  __________________________________________________________________________      *Hybridization results obtained using the doublestranded DNA probe             corresponding to the coding frame of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene       ****results of PCR amplification using the pair of primers YF1YF2              ***Results of enzymatic (alkaline phosphatase) activity following capture      and detection of the amplification products                              

Tables 2 and 3 giving, respectively, the inclusivity and exclusivity results show that the proposed oligonucleotides systematically and exclusively detect Group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes). The diversity and location of the oligonucleotides on the coding portion of the gene and on its flanking regions prove that the region of the pcp gene is a region of the genome which is very specific to this bacterial species and hence favorable to the development of DNA probes for its detection in biological samples.

These tables demonstrate that the presence of a hybridization signal is independent of that of a PYRase phenotype, since bacteria other than S. pyogenes possessing this activity do not interfere in the detection of this microbe.

This amplification product of 256 base pairs obtained using the oligonucleotide pair YF1-YF2 may be visualized extremely rapidly and sensitively by an automated non-radioactive detection system based on sandwich hybridization (Dunn and Hassel, Cell, 1977, 12, 23-36). This system employs two non-overlapping oligonucleotides which correspond to the same DNA strand of the amplified fragment; the first, bound to a solid phase, is a capture probe for the amplification product, and the second, linked to alkaline phosphatase, serves as a detection probe (Jablonski et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1986, 14, 6115-6128). After denaturation, hybridization and washing, detection is carried out by fluorescence using the substrate umbelliferyl phosphate. Tables 2 and 3 present the results of measurement of relative enzymatic activity, obtained using the oligonucleotide pair YF3 (^(5') dCAGCTTATTTTTCAACCTTGCC^(3')) (SEQ ID NO:40 ) and YF4 (^(5') dCAAAGCGATGGTTG-CTGCCA^(3')) (SEQ ID NO:41) corresponding to positions 607 to 628 and 632 to 651 of the pcp sequence (FIG. 3), used, respectively, as detection and capture probe, on a VIDAS (registered trade mark, marketed by the company bioMerieux) automated laboratory apparatus. Any activity less than or equal to 50 units corresponds to a negative result, comparable to the background of a control assay not including amplified DNA, while an activity above 500 units denotes the presence of the desired amplification product. The figures observed corroborate the qualitative results of testing for the amplification product after electrophoretic separation of a fraction of the reaction medium, and confirm the specificity of detection of Group A streptococci with these probes (Cleuziat et al., Proceedings of the Conference on Taxonomy and Automated Indentification of Bacteria, Prague, 1992, 70-73).

b) study by hybridization with genomic DNA

The genomic DNA of the bacteria studied above (international collection strains and strains of clinical origin) and listed in Tables 2 and 3 was extracted according to the method of Chassy cited above following their culture in a suitable liquid medium. Each DNA (quantity equivalent to approximately 10¹² bacteria) was deposited on a nylon membrane using a vacuum filtration apparatus, then denatured and fixed on a membrane as described by Sambrook et al. (Molecular cloning. A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). These DNAs were then hybridized with a double-stranded DNA probe corresponding exactly to the coding frame of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene under conditions permitting its hybridization only to a completely homologous target sequence, as described above. This probe was synthesized by PCR as described above, using the oligonucleotide primers ^(5') dATGAAAATTCTTGTAACAGGC^(3') (SEQ ID NO:42) corresponding to positions 285 to 305, and ^(5') dGTGAGTAGCGCCCCCTAC^(3') (SEQ ID NO:43) complementary to positions 912 to 929 of the sequence of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene (FIG. 3). The hybridization results are indicated in Tables 2 and 3. They demonstrate that the probe consisting of the whole of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene permits the specific and exclusive detection of all strains of Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A β-hemolytic streptococci). No non-specific cross-reaction is observed with any of the other bacterial species, in particular those possessing PYRase activity, which demonstrates that the whole of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene is a very specific genetic marker for this species. All or part of the sequence of the Streptococcus pyogenes pcp gene hence constitutes a specific detection probe for this species.

c) study by Southern hybridization

The genomic DNA of the bacteria S. pyogenes JRS4 (spontaneous streptomycin-resistant mutant of D471), E. faecalis CG110 (Gawron-Burke and Clewell, Nature, 1982, 300, 281-284) and B. subtilis 168 (Lepesant et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 1972, 118, 135-160) is extracted according to the Chassy method cited above. These DNAs are subjected, respectively, to complete digestion with the restriction endonucleases Hpa I or Bgl II, Hind III and Rsa I. The resulting fragments are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and transferred onto a nylon membrane according to Southern's method. This membrane is then hybridized with the PCR probe covering the larger part of the pcp gene, under conditions permitting its hybridization only with a completely homologous target sequence, as described above.

No hybridization signal is observed (FIG. 4) with the genome of the bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis, in contrast to Streptococcus pyogenes which discloses the presence of a single hybridization band, the size of which confirms the established restriction map of the DNA region coding for the PYRase. This result hence shows that the whole of the pcp gene may be used as a DNA probe for the specific detection of Group A streptococci, and that any nucleotide sequence of sufficient length and of any location originating from this gene may also be used for this purpose.

The hybridization results corroborate those obtained by amplification. DNA extracted from the bacteria E. faecalis and B. subtilis does not give rise to cross-hybridization phenomena, although these organisms both possess PYRase activity. This demonstrates that there is no homology between the gene coding for the PYRase of these bacteria and the S. pyogenes pcp gene.

Example 10: overproduction of PYRase

PYRase is of paramount importance in the field of chemistry and biochemistry. Its activity makes it possible, in effect, to liberate terminal NH₂ groups which are blocked by a pyroglutamic residue, thereby making it possible to carry out the peptide sequencing procedure by the Edman sequential degradation method (Acta Chem. Scan, 1950, 4, 283-293).

The 1.6-kbHpa I-Bgl II fragment originating from plasmid pPC20 (FIG. 1) was inserted into the expression vectors pT7-5 and pT7-6 (Tabor and Richardson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1985, 82, 1074-1078), which differ from one another in the orientation of the multiple cloning site situated downstream of the bacteria phage T7 promoter. The resulting plasmids, pPC39 and pPC40, respectively, were introduced into E. coli strain K38 (Russel and Model, J. Bacteriol., 1985, 159, 1034-1039) containing the compatible plasmid pGP1-2 (Tabor and Richardson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1985, 82, 1074-1078). After growth of the bacteria at 30° C. in a selective medium, the synthesis of RNA polymerase of phage T7 from pGP1-2 is induced by thermal shock at 42° C for 20 min. The bacterial RNA polymerase is then inhibited by adding rifampicin (200 μg/ml), leading to exclusive transcription of the pcp gene placed downstream of the phage T7 promoter. The product resulting from translation of the specifically transcribed RNA is visualized by means of the in vivo incorporation of L-[³⁵ S]methionine (1000 Ci/mmol) added at the required time. The cells are thereafter lysed and their protein content is analyzed on denaturing 12.5% polyacrylamide gel (FIG. 10). Expression of the pcp gene under its own promoter from plasmids pPC39 and pPC40 makes it possible, as a result of the high copy number of these plasmids per bacterium, to obtain a significant quantity of PYRase, the apparent molecular weight of which is estimated at 26 kDa. The expressed enzyme proves to be greatly preponderant among the total cell proteins (FIG. 10). The expression of a labeled 26 kDa protein corresponding to PYRase from pPC39 shows that insertion of the pcp gene in the transcription direction imposed by the phage T7 promoter enables the product of this gene to be overproduced specifically. This overproduction permits the purification to homogeneity of a large quantity of PYRase per unit bacterial dry weight, by means of a chromatographic process involving only one step (Awadeet al., FEBS Lett., 1992, 308, 70-74). Likewise, it was possible to overexpress the Bacillus subtilis pcp gene which has been characterized, in order to overproduce the PYRase of this organism in E. coli using the phage T7 promoter/polymerase system described above. This approach also permits the pure protein to be obtained by a one step chromatographic purification process (Gonzales and Awade, J. Chromatogr., 1992, 584, in the press).

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 43                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1336 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 284..928                                                         (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        AACAAAATAAAAGAACTTACCTATTTTCCATCCAAAATGTTTAGCAATCATCATCTGCAA60                 GGCAACGTATTGCATGGCATTGATGTGATGAGCAACTAATATGTCATTAGAACGTTGCGT120                CAAACTAGCATCTAAATAAAGATCGAAATGCAGTTATCAAAAATGCAAGCTCCTATCGGC180                CCTTGTTTTAATTATTACTCACATGCCTTAATGTATTTACTTGCTTATTATTAACTTTTT240                TGCTAAGTTAGTAGCGTCAGTTATTCATTGAAAGGACATTATTATGAAAATTCTT295                     MetLysIleLeu                                                                   GTAACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGGCGGCGAAGCTATTAATCCTGCCCTT343                            ValThrGlyPheAspProPheGlyGlyGluAlaIleAsnProAlaLeu                               5101520                                                                        GAAGCTATCAAGAAATTGCCAGCAACCATTCATGGAGCAGAAATCAAA391                            GluAlaIleLysLysLeuProAlaThrIleHisGlyAlaGluIleLys                               253035                                                                         TGTATTGAAGTTCCAACGGTTTTTCAAAAATCTGCCGATGTGCTCCAG439                            CysIleGluValProThrValPheGlnLysSerAlaAspValLeuGln                               404550                                                                         CAGCATATCGAAAGCTTTCAACCTGATGCAGTCCTTTGTATTGGGCAA487                            GlnHisIleGluSerPheGlnProAspAlaValLeuCysIleGlyGln                               556065                                                                         GCTGGTGGCCGGACTGGACTAACGCCAGAACGCGTTGCCATTAATCAA535                            AlaGlyGlyArgThrGlyLeuThrProGluArgValAlaIleAsnGln                               707580                                                                         GACGATGCTCGCATTCCTGATAACGAAGGGAATCAGCCTATTGATACA583                            AspAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGluGlyAsnGlnProIleAspThr                               859095100                                                                      CCTATTCGTGCAGATGGTAAAGCAGCTTATTTTTCAACCTTGCCAATC631                            ProIleArgAlaAspGlyLysAlaAlaTyrPheSerThrLeuProIle                               105110115                                                                      AAAGCGATGGTTGCTGCCATTCATCAGGCTGGGCTTCCTGCTTCTGTT679                            LysAlaMetValAlaAlaIleHisGlnAlaGlyLeuProAlaSerVal                               120125130                                                                      TCTAATACAGCTGGTACCTTTGTTTGCAATCATTTGATGTATCAAGCC727                            SerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsnHisLeuMetTyrGlnAla                               135140145                                                                      CTTTACTTAGTGGATAAATATTGTCCAAATGCCAAAGCTGGGTTTATG775                            LeuTyrLeuValAspLysTyrCysProAsnAlaLysAlaGlyPheMet                               150155160                                                                      CATATTCCCTTTATGATGGAACAGGTTGTTGATAAACCTAATACAGCT823                            HisIleProPheMetMetGluGlnValValAspLysProAsnThrAla                               165170175180                                                                   GCCATGAACCTCGATGATATTACAAGAGGAATTGAGGCTGCTATTTTT871                            AlaMetAsnLeuAspAspIleThrArgGlyIleGluAlaAlaIlePhe                               185190195                                                                      GCCATTGTCGATTTCAAAGATCGTTCCGATTTAAAACGTGTAGGGGGC919                            AlaIleValAspPheLysAspArgSerAspLeuLysArgValGlyGly                               200205210                                                                      GCTACTCACTGACTGTGACGCTACTAAACCTATTTTAAAAAAACAGAGA968                           AlaThrHis                                                                      215                                                                            TATGAACTAACTCTGTTTTTTTTGTGCTAAAAATGAAAGACCTAGGGAAACTTTTCATCG1028               GTCTTTCTCAATTGTCATCTTAATCTAATACTACTTCTAACATCAGCGGGTATAGTTTGC1088               CAGTAATTAAGAAACGTTGTTGATCTAAATGAGCAATCCCATTCAAAACATTAAGGTCAG1148               GGTAATGGGACTTATCAAGATTTAAGGCTTTTAACAAAGGACTAATATCATAGGTGGCTA1208               CCACCTTTCCAGAATCAGGTTGGAGTTTGACAATAGTATTGGTTTGCCAAATATTGGCAT1268               AGAGATAACCATCTACATACTCTAATTCGTTAAGCATTGAGATAGGGACACTTTCTATAG1328               CAACTAGT1336                                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 645 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..645                                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        ATGAGAAAAAAAGTGCTGATCACAGGCTTTGACCCTTTTGACAAAGAA48                             MetArgLysLysValLeuIleThrGlyPheAspProPheAspLysGlu                               151015                                                                         ACCGTCAATCCATCATGGGAAGCGGCGAAACGGCTTAATGGCTTCGAG96                             ThrValAsnProSerTrpGluAlaAlaLysArgLeuAsnGlyPheGlu                               202530                                                                         ACAGAAGAAGCCATTATTACAGCGGAACAAATTCCAACCGTCTTTAGA144                            ThrGluGluAlaIleIleThrAlaGluGlnIleProThrValPheArg                               354045                                                                         TCCGCTCTGGACACTCTGCGCCAAGCCATTCAAAAACATCAGCCAGAT192                            SerAlaLeuAspThrLeuArgGlnAlaIleGlnLysHisGlnProAsp                               505560                                                                         ATCGTAATTTGTGTCGGCCAAGCAGGAGGACGGATGCAGATTACACCG240                            IleValIleCysValGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgMetGlnIleThrPro                               65707580                                                                       GAACGAGTGGCAATCAACCTTGCAGATGCGCGAATCCCCGATAACGAA288                            GluArgValAlaIleAsnLeuAlaAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGlu                               859095                                                                         GGACATCAGCCGATTGATGAAGAGATTTCTCCAGATGGGCCCGCCGCT336                            GlyHisGlnProIleAspGluGluIleSerProAspGlyProAlaAla                               100105110                                                                      TACTGGACAAGGCTTCCCGTGAAACGAATGACTGCTAAGATGAAGGAA384                            TyrTrpThrArgLeuProValLysArgMetThrAlaLysMetLysGlu                               115120125                                                                      CACGGCATTCCAGCTGCGGTTTCCTACACAGCGGGGACCTTTGTATGC432                            HisGlyIleProAlaAlaValSerTyrThrAlaGlyThrPheValCys                               130135140                                                                      AACTATTTGTTCTACGGGTTAATGGATCACATTAGCCGGACATCCCCA480                            AsnTyrLeuPheTyrGlyLeuMetAspHisIleSerArgThrSerPro                               145150155160                                                                   CACATTCGCGGCGGTTTTATTCATATTCCTTACATTCCGCAGCAAACA528                            HisIleArgGlyGlyPheIleHisIleProTyrIleProGlnGlnThr                               165170175                                                                      ATCGACAAAACAGCGCCGAGCCTCAGCCTGGACACGATTGTCCGGGCA576                            IleAspLysThrAlaProSerLeuSerLeuAspThrIleValArgAla                               180185190                                                                      TTGAGAATCGCCGCTGTTACGGCCGCACAATATGATGAGGATGTGAAG624                            LeuArgIleAlaAlaValThrAlaAlaGlnTyrAspGluAspValLys                               195200205                                                                      TCACCGGGTGGTACGCTGCAC645                                                       SerProGlyGlyThrLeuHis                                                          210215                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 639 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..639                                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                        ATGCGAATTGTACTGCTGACGGGTTTCGAACCCTTTGATCAAGACCCG48                             MetArgIleValLeuLeuThrGlyPheGluProPheAspGlnAspPro                               151015                                                                         GTGAACCCCTCCTGGGAAGCTGTGCGCCAACTGGATGGCGTGCAGTTG96                             ValAsnProSerTrpGluAlaValArgGlnLeuAspGlyValGlnLeu                               202530                                                                         GGAAGCGACGTGAAGATTGTTGCGCGCCGGCTGCCTTGTGCATTTGCC144                            GlySerAspValLysIleValAlaArgArgLeuProCysAlaPheAla                               354045                                                                         ACGGCGGGTGAATGCCTGACCCGGCTGATCGACGAGTTGCACCCGGCG192                            ThrAlaGlyGluCysLeuThrArgLeuIleAspGluLeuHisProAla                               505560                                                                         ATGGTGATCGCCACCGGATTGGGGCCGGGGCGTAGCGATATCTCAGTC240                            MetValIleAlaThrGlyLeuGlyProGlyArgSerAspIleSerVal                               65707580                                                                       GAACGGGTGGCGATCAACATCAATGATGCACGCATCCCCGATAATCTG288                            GluArgValAlaIleAsnIleAsnAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnLeu                               859095                                                                         GGTGAGCAGCCTATCGATACGGCAGTCGTGGCTGACGGCCCGGCGGCT336                            GlyGluGlnProIleAspThrAlaValValAlaAspGlyProAlaAla                               100105110                                                                      TTTTTCACGACGCTGCCGATCAAGGCGATGGTCAAGGCCGTGCGTGAA384                            PhePheThrThrLeuProIleLysAlaMetValLysAlaValArgGlu                               115120125                                                                      GCGGGAATCGCGGCCTCGGTATCGCAGACGGCAGGGACGTTCGTGTGT432                            AlaGlyIleAlaAlaSerValSerGlnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCys                               130135140                                                                      AATCAGGTTTTTTATCTGCTGCAGCATGCGCTCGCAGGGTCTGGGGTA480                            AsnGlnValPheTyrLeuLeuGlnHisAlaLeuAlaGlySerGlyVal                               145150155160                                                                   CGCACTGGGTTTATCCACGTGCCGTTTCTGCCGGAGCAGGTGGCGGGT528                            ArgThrGlyPheIleHisValProPheLeuProGluGlnValAlaGly                               165170175                                                                      TCGCAGCGGCCCTCGATGGCACTGGATGCAATGGTTGCGGGATTGCAG576                            SerGlnArgProSerMetAlaLeuAspAlaMetValAlaGlyLeuGln                               180185190                                                                      GCGGCTGTACTGACAGCTTGGCATACACCGGTGGATGTCAAAGAAGCG624                            AlaAlaValLeuThrAlaTrpHisThrProValAspValLysGluAla                               195200205                                                                      GGCGGGCAGGTCAGC639                                                             GlyGlyGlnValSer                                                                210                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                        GluArgValAlaIleAsnXaaXaaAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnXaa                               151015                                                                         GlyXaaGlnProIleAsp                                                             20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                        GlyXaaXaaAlaXaaValSerXaaThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                               151015                                                                         XaaXaaXaaTyr                                                                   20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 8 amino acids                                                      (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                        LeuXaaThrGlyPheXaaProPhe                                                       15                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 2..3                                                             (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another                                       represents Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Phe or                                Met"                                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 8                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another,                                      represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Gys, Asn or Gln"                                (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 17                                                               (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another,                                      represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Asn, Gln, Lys,                             Arg or His"                                                                    (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 18..19                                                           (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another                                       represents Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Phe or                                Met"                                                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                        GlyGlxGlxAlaXaaValSerGlxThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                               151015                                                                         GlxGlxGlxTyr                                                                   20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 8 amino acids                                                      (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another,                                      represents Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Phe or                                Met"                                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide                                                          (B) LOCATION: 6                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=Z                                                /note="Each independently of one another,                                      represents Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Asn, Gln, Ala,                             Asp or Glu"                                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                        LeuGlxThrGlyPheGlxProPhe                                                       15                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 215 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                        MetArgLysLysValLeuIleThrGlyPheAspProPheAspLysGlu                               151015                                                                         ThrValAsnProSerTrpGluAlaAlaLysArgLeuAsnGlyPheGlu                               202530                                                                         ThrGluGluAlaIleIleThrAlaGluGlnIleProThrValPheArg                               354045                                                                         SerAlaLeuAspThrLeuArgGlnAlaIleGlnLysHisGlnProAsp                               505560                                                                         IleValIleCysValGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgMetGlnIleThrPro                               65707580                                                                       GluArgValAlaIleAsnLeuAlaAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGlu                               859095                                                                         GlyHisGlnProIleAspGluGluIleSerProAspGlyProAlaAla                               100105110                                                                      TyrTrpThrArgLeuProValLysArgMetThrAlaLysMetLysGlu                               115120125                                                                      HisGlyIleProAlaAlaValSerTyrThrAlaGlyThrPheValCys                               130135140                                                                      AsnTyrLeuPheTyrGlyLeuMetAspHisIleSerArgThrSerPro                               145150155160                                                                   HisIleArgGlyGlyPheIleHisIleProTyrIleProGlnGlnThr                               165170175                                                                      IleAspLysThrAlaProSerLeuSerLeuAspThrIleValArgAla                               180185190                                                                      LeuArgIleAlaAlaValThrAlaAlaGlnTyrAspGluAspValLys                               195200205                                                                      SerProGlyGlyThrLeuHis                                                          210215                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 215 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                                       MetLysIleLeuValThrGlyPheAspProPheGlyGlyGluAlaIle                               151015                                                                         AsnProAlaLeuGluAlaIleLysLysLeuProAlaThrIleHisGly                               202530                                                                         AlaGluIleLysCysIleGluValProThrValPheGlnLysSerAla                               354045                                                                         AspValLeuGlnGlnHisIleGluSerPheGlnProAspAlaValLeu                               505560                                                                         CysIleGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgThrGlyLeuThrProGluArgVal                               65707580                                                                       AlaIleAsnGlnAspAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGluGlyAsnGln                               859095                                                                         ProIleAspThrProIleArgAlaAspGlyLysAlaAlaTyrPheSer                               100105110                                                                      ThrLeuProIleLysAlaMetValAlaAlaIleHisGlnAlaGlyLeu                               115120125                                                                      ProAlaSerValSerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsnHisLeu                               130135140                                                                      MetTyrGlnAlaLeuTyrLeuValAspLysTyrCysProAsnAlaLys                               145150155160                                                                   AlaGlyPheMetHisIleProPheMetMetGluGlnValValAspLys                               165170175                                                                      ProAsnThrAlaAlaMetAsnLeuAspAspIleThrArgGlyIleGlu                               180185190                                                                      AlaAlaIlePheAlaIleValAspPheLysAspArgSerAspLeuLys                               195200205                                                                      ArgValGlyGlyAlaThrHis                                                          210215                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 215 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                                       MetLysIleLeuValThrGlyPheAspProPheGlyGlyGluAlaIle                               151015                                                                         AsnProAlaLeuGluAlaIleLysLysLeuProAlaThrIleHisGly                               202530                                                                         AlaGluIleLysCysIleGluValProThrValProGlnLysSerAla                               354045                                                                         AspValLeuGlnGlnHisIleGluSerPheGlnProAspAlaValLeu                               505560                                                                         CysIleGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgThrGlyLeuThrProGluArgVal                               65707580                                                                       AlaIleAsnGlnAspAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGluGlyAsnGln                               859095                                                                         ProIleAspThrProIleArgAlaAspGlyLysAlaAlaTyrPheSer                               100105110                                                                      ThrLeuProIleLysAlaMetValAlaAlaIleHisGlnAlaGlyLeu                               115120125                                                                      ProAlaSerValSerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsnHisLeu                               130135140                                                                      MetTyrGlnAlaLeuTyrLeuValAspLysTyrCysProAsnAlaLys                               145150155160                                                                   AlaGlyPheMetHisIleProPheMetMetGluGlnValValAspLys                               165170175                                                                      ProAsnThrAlaAlaMetAsnLeuAspAspIleThrArgGlyIleGlu                               180185190                                                                      AlaAlaIlePheAlaIleValAspPheLysAspArgSerAspLeuLys                               195200205                                                                      ArgValGlyGlyAlaThrHis                                                          210215                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 213 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                                       MetArgIleValLeuLeuThrGlyPheGluProPheAspGlnAspPro                               151015                                                                         ValAsnProSerTrpGluAlaValArgGlnLeuAspGlyValGlnLeu                               202530                                                                         GlySerAspValLysIleValAlaArgArgLeuProCysAlaPheAla                               354045                                                                         ThrAlaGlyGluCysLeuThrArgLeuIleAspGluLeuHisProAla                               505560                                                                         MetValIleAlaThrGlyLeuGlyProGlyArgSerAspIleSerVal                               65707580                                                                       GluArgValAlaIleAsnIleAsnAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnLeu                               859095                                                                         GlyGluGlnProIleAspThrAlaValValAlaAspGlyProAlaAla                               100105110                                                                      PhePheThrThrLeuProIleLysAlaMetValLysAlaValArgGlu                               115120125                                                                      AlaGlyIleAlaAlaSerValSerGlnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCys                               130135140                                                                      AsnGlnValPheTyrLeuLeuGlnHisAlaLeuAlaGlySerGlyVal                               145150155160                                                                   ArgSerGlyPheIleHisValProPheLeuProGluGlnValAlaGly                               165170175                                                                      SerGlnArgProSerMetAlaLeuAspAlaMetValAlaGlyLeuGln                               180185190                                                                      AlaAlaValLeuThrAlaTrpHisThrProValAspValLysGluAla                               195200205                                                                      GlyGlyGlnValSer                                                                210                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 215 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                                       MetArgLysLysValLeuIleThrGlyPheAspProPheAspLysGlu                               151015                                                                         ThrValAsnProSerTrpGluAlaAlaLysArgLeuAsnGlyPheGlu                               202530                                                                         ThrGluGluAlaIleIleThrAlaGluGlnIleProThrValPheArg                               354045                                                                         SerAlaLeuAspThrLeuArgGlnAlaIleGlnLysHisGlnProAsp                               505560                                                                         IleValIleCysValGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgMetGlnIleThrPro                               65707580                                                                       GluArgValAlaIleAsnLeuAlaAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGlu                               859095                                                                         GlyHisGlnProIleAspGluGluIleSerProAspGlyProAlaAla                               100105110                                                                      TyrTrpThrArgLeuProValLysArgMetThrAlaLysMetLysGlu                               115120125                                                                      HisGlyIleProAlaAlaValSerTyrThrAlaGlyThrPheValCys                               130135140                                                                      AsnTyrLeuPheTyrGlyLeuMetAspHisIleSerArgThrSerPro                               145150155160                                                                   HisIleArgGlyGlyPheIleHisIleProTyrIleProGlnGlnThr                               165170175                                                                      IleAspLysThrAlaProSerLeuSerLeuAspThrIleValArgAla                               180185190                                                                      LeuArgIleAlaAlaValThrAlaAlaGlnTyrAspGluAspValLys                               195200205                                                                      SerProGlyGlyThrLeuHis                                                          210215                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 41 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                                       LeuXaaThrGlyPheXaaProPheGluArgValAlaIleAsnXaaXaa                               151015                                                                         AspAlaArgIleProAspAsnXaaGlyXaaGlnProIleAspValSer                               202530                                                                         XaaThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                                                    3540                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 30 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                                       AATAGCTTCGCCGCCAAAGGGATCAAAGCC30                                               (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                                       ACAGGCTTTGATCCCTTTGG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 41 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                                       GlnProAspAlaValLeuCysIleGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgThrGly                               151015                                                                         LeuThrProGluArgValAlaIleAsnGlnAspAspAlaArgIlePro                               202530                                                                         AspAsnGluGlyAsnGlnProIleAsp                                                    3540                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                                       GlyLeuProAlaSerValSerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                               151015                                                                         HisLeuMetTyr                                                                   20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 14 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                                       CysProAsnAlaLysAlaGlyPheMetHisIleProPheMet                                     1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 11 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                                       LysIleLeuValThrGlyPheAspProPheGly                                              1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                                       GluArgValAlaIleAsnGlnAspAspAlaArgIleProAspAsnGlu                               151015                                                                         GlyAsnGlnProIleAsp                                                             20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 11 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                                       ValSerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                                              1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 41 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                                       GlnProAspAlaValLeuCysIleGlyGlnAlaGlyGlyArgThrGly                               151015                                                                         LeuThrProGluArgValAlaIleAsnGlnAspAspAlaArgIlePro                               202530                                                                         AspAsnGluGlyAsnGlnProIleAsp                                                    3540                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                                       GlyLeuProAlaSerValSerAsnThrAlaGlyThrPheValCysAsn                               151015                                                                         HisLeuMetTyr                                                                   20                                                                             (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 14 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                                       CysProAsnAlaLysAlaGlyPheMetHisIleProPheMet                                     1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 11 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                                       LysIleLeuValThrGlyPheAspProPheGly                                              1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                                       TTCTGGCGTTAGTCCAGTCC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                                       TATCAGGAATGCGAGCATCG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                                       TGCATAAACCCAGCTTTGGC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                                       TTGCCAGCAACCATTCATGG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:                                       AGAAACAGAAGCAGGAAGCC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:                                       AAAATCTGCCGATGTGCTCC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:                                       CTTTGTATTGGGCAAGCTGG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:                                       TACTGGCAAACTATACCCGC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:                                       TGCTCGCATTCCTGATAACG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36:                                       ATCAAAGCGATGGTTGCTGC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37:                                       CCCTATCTCAATGCTTAACG20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:38:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:38:                                       TCAAAAATCTGCCGATGTGC20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:39:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:39:                                       AGGAAGCCCAGCCTGATGAA20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:40:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:40:                                       CAGCTTATTTTTCAACCTTGCC22                                                       (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:41:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:41:                                       CAAAGCGATGGTTGCTGCCA20                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:42:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:42:                                       ATGAAAATTCTTGTAACAGGC21                                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:43:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 18 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:43:                                       GTGAGTAGCGCCCCCTAC18                                                           __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. Purified polypeptide consisting of a peptide sequence consisting of part or all of a sequence selected from the group consisting of:amino acid residues 4-11 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 6-13 of SEQ ID NO: 13; amino acid residues 5-12 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acid residues 78-99 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 81-102 of SEQ ID NO: 13; amino acid residues 81-102 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acid residues 127-146 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 130-149 of SEQ ID NO: 13; and amino acid residues 130-149 of SEQ ID NO: 12; wherein said part of said sequence is at least six amino acids long.
 2. Antibodies capable of specifically binding peptide sequences chosen from those which are defined in claim
 1. 3. Purified polynucleotide coding for a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of:amino acid residues 4-11 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 6-13 of SEQ ID NO: 13; amino acid residues 5-12 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acid residues 78-99 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 81-102 of SEQ ID NO: 13; amino acid residues 81-102 of SEQ ID NO: 12; amino acid residues 127-146 of SEQ ID NO: 11; amino acid residues 130-149 of SEQ ID NO: 13; and amino acid residues 130-149 of SEQ ID NO: 12; orof a polynucleotide sequence complementary to said polynucleotide.
 4. Recombinant cloning or expression vector, characterized in that said vector contains a polynucleotide as defined in claim
 3. 5. Transformed cell it containing a recombinant vector as defined in claim
 4. 6. Nucleic acid probe, characterized in that said probe consists of a sequence of at least 10 nucleotides of a polynucleotide as defined in claim 3, or a sequence complementary to said sequence.
 7. Nucleic acid probe according to claim 6, characterized in that said probe is bound to a solid support.
 8. Nucleic acid probe according to claim 7, characterized in that said probe is bound by adsorption or covalently.
 9. Nucleic acid probe according to claim 7, characterized in that said probe is bound via a coupling agent.
 10. Nucleic acid probe according to claim 6, characterized in that said probe is labeled using a tracer agent.
 11. Method for the detection of a gene coding for a pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase in a microorganism using at least one nucleic acid probe, comprising using a nucleic acid probe as defined in claim
 6. 12. Detection method according to claim 11, characterized in that said probe is bound to a support and is used as a capture probe.
 13. Detection method according to claim 11, characterized in that said probe is labeled using a tracer agent and is used as a detection probe.
 14. Method of preparing a recombinant vector comprising inserting a polynucleotide as defined in claim 3 into an appropriate cloning vector.
 15. Method of preparing a transformed cell comprising transforming a cell with the recombinant vector according to claim
 14. 16. A method for detecting anti-Pyrase antibodies in a sample, comprising the steps of:contacting a polypeptide as defined in claim 1 with a sample under conditions permitting the formation of a complex between the polypeptide and anti-Pyrase antibodies, and detecting the presence of any said complex.
 17. A method for detecting a gene coding for a pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase in a microorganism, comprising the steps of:contacting under hybridizing conditions a nucleic acid probe as defined in claim 6 with a sample containing genomic material from a microorganism, and detecting the presence of any hybrid duplex. 